Car Review: 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5 S

Nissan Altima Coupe is a deal on wheels

I’d love to be a contestant on Jeopardy! It’s a great game show that rewards knowledgeable people – if they can ring in quickly enough.

“I’ll take Drivers’ Cars for $200, Alex.”

Alex Trebek: “It’s a sporty vehicle from a Japanese automaker that combines sharp looks, spirited driving and won’t break the bank at the gas station.”

Me: “What is the 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5 S?”

I’m no Ken Jennings, but I’m smart enough to know a good deal on wheels, even if takes time to grow on me.

Most people shopping for a coupe want the wow factor, nice accoutrements and performance.

But sometimes performance costs a bundle, not only in the never-ending quest for better 0-100 kilometres-per-hour times, but also in having to pay a premium for premium fuel.

This is where the Altima Coupe enters the picture. Forget the dowdy looks of previous generations of the Altima sedan. The new coupe easily gets the wow factor, thanks to its athletic stance, strong creases and good-looking rear end.

Except for the hood, the coupe is totally different from the fourth-generation sedan. The coupe has a shorter wheelbase (by 101 millimetres), shorter overall length (185 mm) and is lower than the sedan.

While it shares the platform, powertrain and other amenities, the coupe has all-new grille, panels, headlights and rear combination lights.

Nissan’s goal: to attract younger buyers who pine for a sportier ride and performance.

That’s very evident when you slip in the sport-styled front seats, which offer more side support than in the sedan – great for when you’re hugging the curves on twisty highways.

The $2,500 upgrade on our tester offered dual climate control and heated seats to keep your behind toasty on those frosty mornings, a nine-speaker Bose stereo system with XM Satellite Radio, auto-dimming mirror and Bluetooth hands-free phone system, among other things. Rear seating is cramped.

When it’s time to drive, press the brake and hit the start button. Our tester came with a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine that produced 175 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 180 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm.

I’m still trying to warm up to the continuously variable automatic transmission that is a $1,200 option with this engine or the more potent 3.5-litre SE V6, which puts out 270 horses at 6,000 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm.

A six-speed manual is available on all trim lines if a gearless transmission isn’t your style.

The 2.5 S looks more expensive than its MRSP of $27,798 for the base model, but it has a few shortcomings.

While its six airbags, four-wheel anti-lock braking and electronic brake-force distribution are standard, traction control, vehicle dynamic control, Xeron headlights and foglights aren’t available on the 2.5 S.

Traction control and foglights are standard on the 3.5, but VDC and Xeron lights are optional.

Safety first, right?

Sure, you can spend a lot more money for a coupe – priced any Mercedeses or Bimmers recently? – but the Nissan Altima 2.5 S would make a worthy choice if you’re a practical person.